Great Leaders, Great Tyrants? - by Arnold Blumberg (Hardcover)

About the Book

Can a political leader be effective without being tyrannical? Most biographies tend to treat the tyrannical aspect of a great leader's career as a contradiction to be minimized. This book examines both the creative and tyrannical aspects as the anticipated consequences of the exercise of power. Biographical profiles of 52 major world leaders throughout history feature pro/con essays reflecting contemporary views of the creative and tyrannical aspects of their record. Coverage is global, from Indira Gandhi to Fidel Castro, and spans history from the Egyptian king Akhenaton to Mikhail Gorbachev. Among the leaders profiled are Otto von Bismarck, Oliver Cromwell, Charles de Gaulle, Elizabeth I, Ho Chi Minh, Lenin, Louis XIV, Mao Zedong, Napoleon I, Kwame Nkrumah, Juan Peron, and Tito. All biographies are written by subject specialists. This work encourages critical thinking and debate about the exercise of power.

Coverage is global, from Indira Gandhi to Fidel Castro, and spans history from the Egyptian king Akhenaton to Mikhail Gorbachev. Among the leaders profiled are Otto von Bismarck, Oliver Cromwell, Charles de Gaulle, Elizabeth I, Ho Chi Minh, Lenin, Louis XIV, Mao Zedong, Napoleon I, Kwame Nkrumah, Juan Peron, and Tito. Each biography begins with full name, dates of the leader's lifetime, offices held, and a general introduction placing the leader in historical context. A full biographical essay follows. The editor then presents two essays, in debate format, contrasting the creative and tyrannical roles of the subject from a contemporary viewpoint. Each biography concludes with suggestions for additional reading about the subject. An important resource tool, students will use Great Leaders, Great Tyrants? for debate and critical examination of periods of world history and the exercise of power.

Book Synopsis

Can a political leader be effective without being tyrannical? Most biographies tend to treat the tyrannical aspect of a great leader's career as a contradiction to be minimized. This book examines both the creative and tyrannical aspects as the anticipated consequences of the exercise of power. Biographical profiles of 52 major world leaders throughout history feature pro/con essays reflecting contemporary views of the creative and tyrannical aspects of their record. Coverage is global, from Indira Gandhi to Fidel Castro, and spans history from the Egyptian king Akhenaton to Mikhail Gorbachev. Among the leaders profiled are Otto von Bismarck, Oliver Cromwell, Charles de Gaulle, Elizabeth I, Ho Chi Minh, Lenin, Louis XIV, Mao Zedong, Napoleon I, Kwame Nkrumah, Juan Peron, and Tito. All biographies are written by subject specialists. This work encourages critical thinking and debate about the exercise of power.

Coverage is global, from Indira Gandhi to Fidel Castro, and spans history from the Egyptian king Akhenaton to Mikhail Gorbachev. Among the leaders profiled are Otto von Bismarck, Oliver Cromwell, Charles de Gaulle, Elizabeth I, Ho Chi Minh, Lenin, Louis XIV, Mao Zedong, Napoleon I, Kwame Nkrumah, Juan Peron, and Tito. Each biography begins with full name, dates of the leader's lifetime, offices held, and a general introduction placing the leader in historical context. A full biographical essay follows. The editor then presents two essays, in debate format, contrasting the creative and tyrannical roles of the subject from a contemporary viewpoint. Each biography concludes with suggestions for additional reading about the subject. An important resource tool, students will use Great Leaders, Great Tyrants? for debate and critical examination of periods of world history and the exercise of power.

Review Quotes

.,."the book should be useful for teachers and advanced students researching world history and political topics."-The Book Report

?...the book should be useful for teachers and advanced students researching world history and political topics.?-The Book Report

?A fascinating approach to the history of political leadership that focuses on the essential questions: 'Can a leader be effective without being tyrannical?' and 'At what point does tyranny begin to self-destruct?' The writing throughout is graceful and authoritative. The subject index is detailed. A solid resource for political biography, for debate, and for the promotion of critical-thinking skills.?-School Library Journal

?This work can serve as a useful introduction to the lives and policies of numerous historically prominent rulers. ... Great Leaders, Great Tyrants? should initiate study and analysis, and lead to consultation of more substantive works describing and analyzing the lives and policies of these individuals.?-ARBA

..."the book should be useful for teachers and advanced students researching world history and political topics."-The Book Report

"This work can serve as a useful introduction to the lives and policies of numerous historically prominent rulers. ... Great Leaders, Great Tyrants? should initiate study and analysis, and lead to consultation of more substantive works describing and analyzing the lives and policies of these individuals."-ARBA

"A fascinating approach to the history of political leadership that focuses on the essential questions: 'Can a leader be effective without being tyrannical?' and 'At what point does tyranny begin to self-destruct?' The writing throughout is graceful and authoritative. The subject index is detailed. A solid resource for political biography, for debate, and for the promotion of critical-thinking skills."-School Library Journal

About the Author

ARNOLD BLUMBERG is Professor of History at Towson State University in Maryland. A specialist in European and Middle Eastern diplomatic history, he is the author of A Carefully Planned Accident: The Italian War of 1859 (1990), Zion Before Zionism (1986), A View from Jerusalem, 1849-1858 (1980), and (1971), as well as numerous articles.